Apparatus for controlling oil wells



June 23, 1925. 1,543,456

7 R. STIRLING v APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OIL WELLS Filed April 2 1924 Patented a... 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES,

ROBERT STIRLING, OF DOBMANS PARK, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OIL WELLS.

Application and April 2a, 1924, "Serial No. 709,100;

To all whom it concern."

Be it known that I, Roam STIRLING, of

The Anchorage, Dormans Park, Surrey,

England, a subject of the, King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Redating to A paratus for Controlling Oil Wells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus employed to control oil wells and the like, known as a .blow-out preventer. .It is chiefly adopted,,when drilling a well by the rotary system, as a packer to pre- .ventthe escape of oil and gas and the like between the drill stem pipe-and the casing pipe, but is also'of general use between the various sizes of casing pipes used to line' boreholes. I

'The object of the invention is to pro vide an effective and simple blow-out preventer or packer held in position so that it can be readily applied when required 'to prevent the escape of oil or gas or other liquid or fluid under pressure between the pipes used in drilling or casing boreholes.

Apparatus embodymg my invention enables the packing piece to be readily withdrawn when iti's' required to allow a coupling. of the rotary drill stem or casing.

pipe to pass, without disturbing the packmg, and retains it in position to be easily and quickly returned when the coupling has been'passed in or out. The packing ring is not'brought into use until. required, and can, therefore, be used'to pass any number .of couplings without being deformed, and'is consequently ready to make a perfect joint between the drill stem and casing pipes, or between casing pipes of different sizes, against any pressure, when re- .-.quired to prevent'leakage.

Therefore, apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention comprises, es-

sentially a sectionally-constructed member provided with packing and capable of radial and longitudinal movement relatively to the drill pipes, casing pipes;or the like,

and means for accomplishing the operation of the member.

Referring to the drawings filed herew h;

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one construction of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the packer in positlon to make a joint, and the positions of the segments, when opened, to pass a coupling; and 4 'Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary vertical section through'one of-the screw pins used to retain the packing ring in osition.

'Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate t e apparatus in-position to make a tight joint between the drill stem pipe A and the casing pipe B. C isthe seating or casing head-attached by screw to the casing B. It is provided with four outlets D, to any or all of which pipes, controlled by valves, can be screwed to take away gas or liquid when required. The hinged packing segments E, held by the studs G having nuts L and pins M, are shown in position to make a tight joint, and in Fig. 2 is represented also the open position E of the segments to allow the coupling F to pass. They are prevented from opening further by the stop pins H screwed into' thetop of the seatingC. Handles I are provided to lift and operate the segments easily. The method of holding the packing ring J in position, by the four screw pins K, is show in Fig. 3.

The apparatus may following manner When it is'required to pass the coupling F the nuts L are run-to the tops of the studs G'against the pins M. The segments E- are then lifted up to the nuts by the handles I, and opened, until stopped by the pins H, and retained resting on the top of the seating C, as shown in Fig. 2 at E. When the coupling F has been passed, the segments E are closed. and dropped into the position shown in Fig.1, the nuts L being run down the studs G by hand to be operated in the .their original positions. This operation can be repeated, as often as a coupling has to down by aid of. a wrench, thus expanding the packing ring J, which is preferably made of soft lead, but may be of elastic material.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A blow-out preventer for oil-well casings comprising sections carrying jointmaking packing for co-acting with the inner casing, said sections being hinged at one and over, both said vjoint-making packin one end on means portions; members end on means fixed to the outer casing, being adapted to abutably engage and disengage other means also fixed on said outer casing, and being slidable longitudinally of, means; and devices operatively positioning said sections relatively to said means. v

1' 2. A blow-out preventer for oil-well casings comprising a head secured to the outer casing, and having at least one delivery pipe associated with it; sections carrying inner casing, said sections being hinged at fixed to said head, being adapted to abutabl engage and disengage other means also being slidable longitudinally of, and over, bothfsaid means and devices operativelypositioning said sections relatively to said means.

3. A blow-out preventer for oil-well casings comprising a head secured to the outer casing; complemental arcuate sections coacting with the inner casing; joint-making packing carried by said sections; meanson' said head with which the sections are constrainedly associ ted so that they may turn radially towards, and from, said inner casing to close. around and embrace it to make a tight joint, or separate and release it, as well as move vertically and lengthwise of said casing in order to couplings thereon; and devices operatively positioning the sections relatively to said head and to said means.

'4. A blow-out'preventer' for oil-well casings comprising a head secured to the outer casing and having a socke at the end remote from said casing; complementary arcuate sections co-acting with the exterior of the inner casing and having spigot portions cooperating with the socket of said head; joint-making packing carried by said spigot fixed to, and projecting from, said head, said members serving for the pivoting of said sections and for their abutting contact, as well as constituting guides for their vertical movement; and means on said members and on said head for operatively positioning said sections.

5. A blow-out preventer for oil-well casfor co-acting with the xed on said head, and

permit the passage ofmembers adapted to pivot relatively to said studs as well as slide thereover; eyes at one end of said members hingably engaging one of said studs so that the members close and open radially with regard to the inner casing and thus jointly'embrace and release same; ears at the otlfer end of said members engaging and disengaging the other said stud; means on said members for sliding them vertically over said studs to raise and lower them relatively to said-head; spigot portions on said members complemental. to the socket in said head; joint-making packing carried by said spigot portions; and nuts on said studs for locking and releasing said members relatively to said head.

.6. A blow-out preventer for oil-well cas ings comprising ahead secured to the outer casing, said head having a socket at the free end, and having at least one delivery pipe communicating with the space between said outer casing and the complementary inner casing; two studs fixed to "said head at opposite points; a pair of complementary arcuate me'nbers adapted to pivot relat vely to said studs, as well as slide thereover length- Wise; e yes at one end 61? said members hingably engaging one of said studs so that the members close and open radially with regard to said inner casing and thus jointly embrace and release same; ears at the other end of said members engaging and disengaging the other of said studs; means on said members for sliding them vertically over said studs to raise and lower them relatively to said head; spigot portions on said members complemental to the socket in said head; joint-making packing carried bywsaid spigot portions; nuts on said studs for locking and releasing said members relatively to said head; means on said studs for limiting the inoperative movement of said nuts; and stops on said head for determining the amount of opening of said members.

- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ROBERT STIRLING. 

